Yesterday the Energy Saving Trust launched Green Communities - a brand new online hub for UK communities, offering free tools and advice to help communities to come together to reduce their carbon footprint.
 
Green Communities aims to support, facilitate and promote community based energy projects - with a great range of online resources, free training and advice on project planning and funding, and of course, technical support.

To access the site, visitors are encourages to become members. Membership is completely free, and members have access to the following:

1. Advice & Support - impartial advice is provided via telephone or email on a variety of issues.
2. Training - there are a variety of free training courses available for community members who would like to know how to go about running a successful community project - the subjects covered include planning, funding, energy auditing, income generation models and much more.
3. Expert Consultancy - access experienced professionals to assist in making decisions for your project at each key stage.
4. Annual Conference - a chance to attend the annual conference, listen to keynote speakers, network and take part in workshops
5. Funding access and advice.
6. Monthly Email Bulletins -  receive regular updates on the latest sustainable energy news.
7. Newsletters - twice per year receive an email showcasing all of the excellent achievements of the network.
8. Community Carbon Footprint Tool - a tool which allows you to estimate your community’s carbon footprint, and update it as and when your project takes effect.
9. Tools & Resources - access to templates and ‘how to’ guides on how to reduce your community’s carbon footprint and deliver projects.
10. Community Projects - access to our case study library and the Green Communities project database so you can learn from projects which others have undertaken. Likewise, you can also elect to share the learnings from your project with other members.
11. Local Support - the opportunity to bid for hands on support from your local advice centre to help you to deliver your energy project.
12. Bursary - receive up to £200 to help your community group develop an energy project. Funding can cover travel costs, events, equipment, room hire etc. 
13. Green Community Heroes - enter your community project for one of our Green Communities recognition awards in partnership with the Guardian newspaper.

Joan Ruddock, MP, Minister of State, DECC, said: 

“Community-wide action is vital if the UK is to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets and make the transition to a low-carbon future. We know that lots of people want to take action but aren’t sure where to start – the Energy Saving Trust’s Green Communities programme will play a valuable role in helping achieve collective change, street by street, in every community.”

Expert in community engagement, Professor Erik Bichard, University of Salford, said:

“Our most trusted advisors are often the people we find closest to us. Community strength to tackle climate change needs to start somewhere.  The Energy Saving Trust’s Green Communities programme is a way of compelling community leaders to kick-start local action.”

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: 

“We already have 2,000 community groups signed up across the UK and interest is growing daily. We know that by working with communities the potential to influence friends and families is huge.”

Communities across the UK are invited to register for free membership today at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community or call 0844 848 0077.

Image courtesy of the Energy Saving Trust website.

Who to trust?

When seeking advice about anything it’s always difficult to know who to trust. It seems that when it comes to energy savings, consumers are really struggling.

According to a recent survey by the Energy Saving Trust only 17% of consumers trust the energy saving advice of those tradespeople who are undertaking work for them. 

It’s problematic.

We’re not going to sit here and tell you that you should trust us. There are an awful lot of cowboys out there and to be perfectly honest, you’re right to be suspicious.

What are the motivations of those people trying to sell you an energy saving solution? Are they just trying to sell you a more expensive product that you don’t really need?

Unfortunately this hesitancy could cost you dearly. Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said “Real cost savings - in terms of labour and minimising disruption - are on offer to householders who employ tradespeople to install energy-efficiency measures when they are in doing other work.”

So, on balance - what’s a green consumer to do if they’re not sure who to trust?

Well, we’d recommend that you take the time to educate yourself. According to the Energy Saving Trust you could save up to £340 annually on your household bills. Plus as all homes for sale or rent now need to have Energy Performance Certificates, a low rating may make your home harder to sell or rent in the future.

So, where to start?

We’ve pulled together a list of impartial resources which we think you might find useful:

The Energy Saving Trust are a non-profit organisation set up to provide free impartial advice on how to save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home. On their website you can compare products, read more about how to reduce carbon emissions and search for grants.

The BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the glazing industry’s trade association, the Glass and Glazing Federation. It is the UK’s national system for rating Energy Efficient Windows and on their website you’ll find everything you need to know about the ratings, the labels and what they mean.

The Government also provide guidance and further information on energy savings - offering tips, further explanations and useful links.

You might also like to have a look at the National Energy Federation website - there you can learn more about climate change and how to cut your carbon emissions. They’ve also got a great page where they bust some energy myths - interesting reading.

Finally, check out FENSA, they partner with the Energy Saving Trust and the British Fenestration Rating Council, from an energy savings perspective, so make sure your selected supplier is registered with them - if they’re not, our advice would be to find yourself an alternative supplier.

Obviously if you are looking for help and advice, we’d also be happy to help, why not visit one of our show centres, call us on 0800 666 444 or book a home visit.

Image credit phauly